SAW-2017-02528_WLSYadkin01UMB-GrassyCreekTribs_MY2CreditRelease

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WILMINGTON DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
151 PATTON AVENUE
ROOM 208
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28801-5006
January 5, 2023
Regulatory Division
Action ID No. SAW-2017-02528
Re: Monitoring Year 2 (MY2) credit release of the WLS Yadkin 01 Umbrella Mitigation
Banking Instrument (UMBI) - Grassy Creek Tributaries Mitigation Site
Ms. Cara Conder
Water and Land Solutions
7721 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27615
Dear Ms. Conder:
This correspondence is in reference to your October 19, 2022, request for the MY2 credit
release for the Grassy Creek Tributaries Mitigation Site, part of the WLS Yadkin 01 Umbrella
Mitigation Bank. The Grassy Creek Mitigation Site is located approximately five miles south of
the Town of Pilot Mountain in Pinnacle, Surry County, North Carolina. According to the updated
measurements in the As -Built Report, the 13.1-acre project presents 4,987 warm Stream Mitigation
Units (SMU) for stream restoration and enhancement, along Grassy Creek and its unnamed
tributaries in the Upper Yadkin Watershed of the Upper Pee Dee River Basin (03040101). The
purpose of this letter is to confirm the MY2 release of credits for this mitigation site.
Pursuant to the Mitigation Banking Instrument (UMBI) entitled, Agreement to Establish the
WLS Yadkin 01 Umbrella Mitigation Bank, approved January 27, 2020; and the site -specific
Grassy Creek Tributaries Final Mitigation Plan dated September 2019, ten percent (10%) of the
mitigation site's total restoration and enhancement credits shall be available for sale immediately
upon completion of required tasks pursuant to the Mitigation Plan.
By copy of this correspondence, we confirm that you have satisfied the above
requirements for MY2 release for all parcels within the bank; and 498.7 SMU's of the mitigation
site's total restoration and enhancement credits are now available for sale. This includes a 10%
release of credits as adjusted by As -Built modifications. This site did not include any wetland or
preservation credits.
Although no IRT field visit was held during MY2 the following comments are provided
after review of the MY2 report:
1. Please continue to track all comments/areas of concern in future monitoring

reports.
2. Please provide the pre -growing season photos on R7 for better channel view as
noted in MY meeting minutes item 913.
3. Although mentioned as currently stable, the piping on log J-hook at station 57
+10 (SPA-1) has continued for consecutive monitoring years. Is the current piping
a barrier to aquatic life movement and would chinking help reduce the current
piping?
4. Please confirm Table 7 was correct in that the highest measurement above
bankfull for MY2 was on 7/13/2022 as a result of a 0.36" rainfall. This was a
much lower precipitation event than the other bankfull events. Any idea as to why
this triggered bankfull?
Thank you for your time and cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact
Steve Kichefski at [phone] extension 4234 or (828)-933-8032 (mobile).
Sincerely,
For
Digitally signed by Steve Kichefski
Steve Kichefski Date: 2023.01.05 09:56:59 -05'00'
Scott Jones, Chief
Asheville Regulatory Field Office
Electronic Copies Furnished (via email):
Erin Davis (NCDWR)
Andrea Leslie (NCWRC)
Travis Wilson (NCWRC)
Byron Hamstead (USFWS)
Todd Bowers (USEPA)
Renee Gledhill -Earley (NCSHPO)
Todd Tugwell (USACE)
Kim Browning (USACE)
Casey Haywood (USACE)
Scott Jones (USACE)